Leonard David Goscila

1929 - 2021

Leonard David Goscila
1929 - 2020
Resident of San Jose
Leonard (Gus) Goscila, 91, passed away on November 30, 2020 peacefully at his home. Leonard was born November 1, 1929 to Leonard Goscila and Clementine Casale. He was preceded in death by his brother John and sister Doreen. He has a surviving sister Marilyn (Cookie) Goble. He attended Peter Burnett Elementary School. He graduated from Bellarmine in 1947 and Santa Clara University in 1951.
In 1951 Leo married Carol Jean Eichinger and shortly after marriage was drafted into the Army, and spent two years at Ford Ord. After serving in the Army, he returned to the family farm where he and his brother John farmed tomatoes under the Cookie Girl Label. With the recognition of the label, it helped them to focus on another area and began brokering produce from Mexico and less time on farming. During this time Leo and Carol adopted four children, Lori Downs-Vella, Linda Goscila, Mark Goscila and Scott Goscila (deceased).
In 1974 he started his own company, Bay Area Produce. A couple years later Henry Imwalle joined the company and became his partner. Leo became over 41 years known as "The Tomato King". They closed the company in 2015. During these years he became a cancer survivor. In 1990 his wife Carol passed away from lung cancer.
After Carol's death, Leo concentrated on his business, family, and golf. He was a member of the Almaden Golf and Country Club. His generous alumni involvement at Bellarmine helped honor him in 1998 with the "Man of the Year" award. Also, that year while on a golf vacation in Maui, he met Doree Cochran, an elementary school teacher, and found a new love, a new life, and yet another son Brian. He and Doree married in 1999. For 21 years when not traveling, they spent time at their homes in San Jose and Wailea, Maui.
He was also involved for years with Valiant Investment Association with twelve members, some of which were his close school friends.
Leo is survived by four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, eight nieces and nephews, and 10 great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one great niece.
A private service will be held in 2021.


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